Government sets up new ‘Council for the North’

Local enterprise partnerships from across the North of England will come together to form a new body to support ambitions for the region.

A government-funded board called NP11 will be made up of chairs of the 11 northern LEPs and act as a modern-day version of the medieval Council for the North. It will advise central government on how to increase productivity and tackle the north-south divide.

Announcing the creation of the board in Newcastle today, Northern Powerhouse minister Jake Berry said: “As we approach leaving the European Union we need to ensure that every area of the UK continues to economically flourish.

“For the first time since 1472, we will bring together the business voices of the Northern Powerhouse in our Council for the North.

“They have one task: to enrich all the peoples of the North of England … we will shift the North’s economy into overdrive.”

NP11 will be chaired by Roger Marsh, chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership.

“By bringing together the private and public sectors, local enterprise partnerships are in a unique position to unite northern business and civic leaders behind a common goal of building a true northern economic powerhouse that brings prosperity to everyone who lives and works in the North, while also competing for the country globally,” Marsh said.

“Our country’s success is built on northern industry, innovation, and determination.”

Vivienne Russell

Vivienne Russell is managing editor of Public Finance magazine and publicfinance.co.uk

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